I'm sorry about all the problems with your pictures. I'd thought that there was a problem with my computer which wouldn't have surprised me.
My daughter set my fitbit up so I'd get notifications for phone calls and texts. I do carry my phone around at work. It doesn't fit in my pants but does fit in my vest pocket. We use our phones to check prices to price match. Our store has free wifi or we wouldn't do it.
Your dad and brother look happy to see you. It's too bad the girls couldn't come. It's good to hear that Allison is doing well in school.
Sorry about Josh's truck. Hopefully he can fix it soon.
Taking down Christmas decorations is one of my least favorite jobs. I haven't started, yet. I might do it on my day off Wednesday after I get home from the dentist.
Have a good day
Liz
LOL - I just wanted to make sure everyone knew it wasn't their computer or the Dis - this time it was me. LOL
I do get notifications for phone calls - which is good - but so far, no texts... I'll have to go in and triple check my settings.
We also use our phones for that purpose on the floor - however - at the moment, I can't use mine... And I'd likely forget it was there, if I put it in my back pocket - I just don't want to/can't afford to risk that... So, in my locker it stays.
Yes - it was a bummer that the girls couldn't come. We'll make a special trip up there in a couple weeks, so the can see him/he can see them.
Hopefully - today starts the chaos! I am not looking forward to it. Who knows - maybe since I can't go anywhere - I will get lots of work done? LOL It might be good for us in the end.
I didn't plan on taking down the Christmas decor yesterday - and then Josh had me send a text to the girls to start taking ornaments off the tree - I didn't hear back from either of them - so I just assumed they didn't do it... Which is fine with me - as I was really enjoying the tree. Then, when we got home, we discovered that Allison had taken every ornament off of the tree by herself, and packed them all away - so all that was left for me to do was take down the actual tree + the decor around the living room and haul it all to the basement. Miraculously - I was able to get all of that done by myself... However - i still have the Entertainment cabinet to de-Christmas, as I ran out of storage bins.
That should be easy though.
Have a great day!
I'm so sorry to hear that getting the pictures from your trip into this trip report is so much extra work for you. I enjoy reading about your trip even if not all the pictures are showing.
Looks like you had a great time with your dad and brother. I can understand you been torn between your dad and brother been able to see each other often and have your dad near you. It's a hard decision to make
In Norway most people have their Christmas decoration up until 6th January or 13th January. I haven't decided when my decoration will go down. It will happen either this weekend or the next
I totally agree with V that all people will see of her phone including her is the case. So it really doesn't matter what color the phone is since no one will see it. Wise of her to get a rose gold color since that's the color she wants
The older car gets the more repairs the car need. So it might be wise to start looking for a new truck for Josh before the truck his got now has to have many expensive repairs.
How great that you are happy with the pedicure Allison gave you. It's great that you can help her getting some training and it's great that the price is so low that you are able to afford it even on a super strict budget.
Here everything is back to normal again from today. It's kind of nice that everything goes back to normal even if it was nice not having to go to physiotherapy 2 times a week.
On New Years Eve my dad told Ulf and I that going on a cruise isn't that expensive since everything is paid for, even the food. My parents went on a cruise for the first time in September and they liked it very much.
Yesterday I checked
Disney cruise just for fun. But it was easier said than done to find out what I wanted to find out. I search the whole website to find out what exactly is included in the cruise package. But I didn't manage to find that information. I found a vague list of what is included in the price, but that isn't enough since a vague list doesn't help when you're making a budget for what you need to use money on while on a cruise.
Thanks Lillian! I was able to get all of my pictures for the next update uploaded and turned yesterday - so I am a little bit ahead of myself. As long as I can get them uploaded and turned during the week - I should be able to continue updates on the weekends.
It's definitely tough - there is so much more to it than what I write about here... Though, for the time being - I feel it's best to leave everything as it is.
I was sort-of hoping to leave mine up until next weekend - however - we came home yesterday and Allison had already finished taking all of the ornaments off of the tree... So - I was able to spend a few hours taking the rest down and hauling it to the basement.
It's kind of nice to have it down - but boy is it sure bare!
I totally agree about the truck - if we can find something that fits our needs - that may just be the hardest part.
And if we rebuild this motor - it's like having a new vehicle... We'll see just what's wrong with it and go from there... Who knows - it could just be an easy repair?
Yes - it's very nice to be able to go in for cheap pedicures.
Ooooh - now I've never been on a Disney cruise before - but I have heard that everything is included - with exception to anything you do OFF of the boat and possibly alcohol? But food and any boat activities are included...
I hope you are able to figure it out, so you can possibly take a trip! FUN!
Loved the updates! It is helping me get excited for our trip (which is soon, and that's hard to believe). Is The Wave at the Contemporary where you go for breakfast sometimes? I made a reservation there for DH and I just to have some time away from the rest of the family. He likes big breakfasts and this seemed like a good way to get some time together without the kids and my parents and we won't be missing park time with them.
I am so glad you got to go see your dad and brother. They are cute.
I took our tree and Christmas decorations down on Friday. I just couldn't stand all the extra clutter anymore. It was funny, though, after it was down the house seemed kinda empty.
Max and Cooper are just adorable! It's cute that they sleep close to each other like that. My dogs do sometimes but mostly they find their own spaces.
Have a great day!
Yay!!! Glad that everyone is loving them!
And
that your trip is almost here!!! That is awesome!
Yes - we do eat at The Wave at the Contemporary... It's one of our favs! Sounds like it's a win/win if you do it!
Thanks! It was so nice to be able to see them too! It's hard to be so far away!
Hahaha - I was able to get our tree packed away too - Allison took all of the ornaments off of the tree for me yesterday morning, so it was fairly easy (though still very time consuming) to get the rest of it packed up and hauled to the basement. I agree - it is very empty now.... I loved our tree so much this year, I am going to miss that soft glow at night. It's just so cozy!
LOL - I am not sure that MM enjoys it? I think MM just gets comfy and then SC swoops in and makes himself comfy around MM. LOL They are sure cute though - when they can get along... I think MM is still a little upset with us that we found him a brother. LOL
My business partner started out as a beautician. She became a firefighter (still is) and now partner in our Scuba shop. She still cuts hair for a few of her old customers and makes extra money! So no matter what Allison does, she can always do hair/nails too!
Aren't we all. I ate everything in sight for the holidays. Back to the real world with better eating habits!
I was thinking the same thing, but didn't mention it as your girls might not enjoy the comparison (but maybe they do?)
Every time I see your dogs and your beautiful floor I wonder if you chose the color based on their fur--they match! (Probably helps hide some of the fur, too!)
I'm going to take down Christmas decorations today. I worked 1/2 day, but since all of our vendors are still closed, there wasn't much I could accomplish other than accounting stuff. It always looks so boring once the decorations are put away.
Glad you got to visit your Dad and brother. A good friend's Mother just passed away--always a reminder that we need to see and enjoy our family when we can.
That is very interesting... I agree though - it will always be a good way for her to make some extra cash.
Yup - today it's back to everything... Heavy lifting - eating right and working.
It was so nice to have the time off for the holidays - but it will be good to get back into my routine too.
Hahaha... they are much better with it now than what they used to be. It kind of warmed my heart to see them dressing alike on their own, instead of me forcing them (when they were little and for a few holidays since...) - I thought it was cute!
I still do - though they give me crap about it. LOL
Hahaha! No, we did not pick the floor due to them - though it did work out pretty nice didn't it?
I reluctantly took our Christmas decor down yesterday too... Josh had me text the girls to have them get started while we went to Rochester... When we got back - V was still sleeping (no surprise) and Allison had single handedly taken every ornament off of the tree and packed it away... So, I was forced to do the remainder yesterday afternoon. I was able to get most of it done - I still have the entertainment cabinet to put away though - which should be easy - I just ran out of bins.
It was wonderful to see both my dad and brother - I get to see my brother way less often - though I do stay in contact with Jonathan's foster-mom, so I know how he is doing and what is going on with him. It's hard though - I know this is a natural process - I guess I just never knew how much my dad took care of for my brother and himself - and now that I am in the process of managing both of their lives - it's harder. I won't even go into the difficulty emotionally with everything... It's sad - terribly sad.
I hope you had a nice New Years?
What an amazing trip this sounds like! I have to ask though... how do you store all these awesome mugs?? I have gotten rid of most of my mugs and have left only the Disney You-Are-Here ones!
Thanks! It was a lot of fun... I sure wish it wouldn't have gone by so fast though! We were there for 10 days, though it sure didn't seem like it.
Hahaha... Well - for the moment... My daily coffee mugs are stored in my "coffee bar" cabinet - which hasn't made it to official "coffee bar" status - as my coffee pot is clear on the other side of the room on my kitchen counter. I am still on the hunt for a cabinet that can house my mugs + hold the coffee pot, as this one just wasn't working out (it wasn't deep enough to feel safe having the coffee put there) - I am not having much luck though, so it looks like Josh may end up building me one in the spring.
The Starbucks mugs - currently are stored in my China hutch with my Grandmother's China... I am also trying to figure out a way to display them so I can use them, yet make them look nice. I am kind of holding out until we have the coffee bar thing worked out. LOL It's a process.
I've seen some great ideas on Pinterest and also in some of my FB decor groups... It's just a matter of finding what I want and making it work for us. It is my goal this year to have it all set up though.
I'm so glad you had a nice visit with your Dad and your brother. I love the picture of Allison fixing Josh's hair!
Fun trip report update. The
MNSSHP parade is my absolute favorite - especially the grave diggers. But that woman invading V's personal space like that -- totally unacceptable! It seems like crowds and people are getting more and more rude on each trip we go on. It's sad. But seriously -- she was absolutely and entirely in the wrong. I don't blame V for snapping at her! Alyssa is the same way about personal space and touchiness (it's so funny -- I think your girls and my girls are SO much alike in personality and temperament!). She gets pretty irritated if people invade her personal space, and she snapped at a couple of kids at the Star Wars fireworks on our trip in August. They were play fighting with light sabers and one of the kids stepped on her hand (we were sitting on the ground), and then the other kid hit her in the face with a light saber. She had asked several times for them to stop or to move -- and loudly enough for their parents to hear and tell the kids (half-heartedly) to stop or move. But when the kid stepped on her hand and then the other one hit her in the face, she really snapped and yelled. The parents scolded the kids and took the light sabers away and made them sit down...and then gave Alyssa dirty looks through the fireworks show. *Sigh*
We took down our Christmas tree and most of the interior decorations today. There are still a few to take down. But it's been raining all day so all of the outside decorations are wet, so we're going to have to wait to take those down and box them up until they dry out. It's always sad for me when we take the decorations down. And doubly so this year since we boxed Alyssa's ornaments up separately so she and Andrew will have them for their first Christmas as a married couple next year.
The wedding dress saga...oh my...We went to a huge fabric warehouse store in DC today -- we were told that if we couldn't find what we needed there, it probably didn't exist. Well, we learned a couple of things. First, lace fabric in the width Alyssa's friend said we needed does not exist. Second, lace is MUCH more expensive in DC than it is in Utah! The cheapest lace fabric we found was $90/yard....the one we liked the best was $200/yard! NO WAY. I didn't want to push Alyssa to change her mind and buy a dress instead of having her friend make it, but over the weekend she came to me and said she felt like we weren't going to find reasonably priced lace that she liked (since it's a lace dress, it's important that the lace look gorgeous) and that she felt it would be much less stressful to buy a dress, and she also said she felt like she let Emily guilt her into making the dress because of some stuff in their history. I was secretly relieved and told her that I completely supported her decision. Fortunately, we have a friend who owns a large bridal salon about three hours from where Alyssa goes to school in Utah and she said she would give us a discount on the dress if it was one they carried or could order for us. Alyssa did some looking online this weekend and found several dresses in the style she wants (fit and flare, sleeves to the elbow, all over lace, scalloped lace at the bottom, with a soft color under ivory lace). They all have V necks and she prefers a round neckline, but the salon can do alterations. We contacted our friend and she said they carry several of the dresses Alyssa picked out and so Alyssa will go down there next Saturday (not this coming Saturday) to try the dresses on and make her decision. I am very, very relieved. And it looks like we'll be able to get the dress for less than I had budgeted for it, which is great...since the photographer (Andrew's sister-in-law) is going to cost more than I expected. Oh well.....
We got so much planning done this weekend -- the wedding invitations have been selected, the food has been decided on, the center pieces have been decided on, and we found my Mom's dress for the wedding. And I found my dress. I was going to go with pink (the colors are pink and silver/gray) but we were out shopping after Christmas and Lord and Taylor was having a great sale...they had a gorgeous dark gray dress on clearance, plus an additional 40% off.....I tried it on and it fit perfectly, no alterations needed. And, if I can toot my own horn for a moment, it looked pretty darn good. Alyssa and my Mom insisted that I get it...it cost me $56. Woohoo! I absolutely love a bargain! We're trying to finalize bridesmaids attire, and Andrew's Mom has ordered the pants, vests, socks, and ties for the groomsmen. We're getting there! We also started making some of the decorations for the reception. By the time she goes back to school on Friday we should have 90% of the planning done. Yea!
I'm off this week, other than working a couple of mornings from home...trying to maximize my time with Alyssa. Mark and Brie go back to school tomorrow.
Have a great day!
Thanks! It was fun to see both of them and spend some time with them. It's too rare that it happens these days.
LOL _ I loved those pictures of Josh and Allison too... It was so cute! Even if Josh was a little/lot reluctant. LOL
I agree!!! I love so much planning the trips, and I love going... Then I get there and I remember the crowds and it's like "UGH!!!" What was I thinking? LOL I honestly think they need to stop updating the parks and just build one more park to disburse some of these people... It's getting to the point where their resorts are almost 100% capacity all year long, which in turn makes the parks so crowded - it's like they built too many resorts for the amount of park space they have - not even factoring in the off property guests. I dunno - it's probably a good thing that I don't have a trip planned for 2017 (as sad as it is...)
I ended up taking the tree down yesterday too - though I wasn't planning on it... Josh had me text the girls to start taking the ornaments off while we went to Rochester... I honestly didn't think they would. LOL Then we got home, and Allison had single-handedly taken every single ornament off and packed it away... So, I was forced to finish - it was a lot of work - though it's nice to have it mostly done... However - it's so bare in there and I am going to miss the glow of the lights.
The glow of the lights seems to make winter a little more bearable.
Ahhh the dress - yikes!!! I do not look forward to that time in my life! Though when that times comes - I think I will look to you for advice, as it seems like you have this down perfectly! LOL I am so glad that Alyssa came to the conclusion that there is enough stress with planning a wedding - to add the stress of shopping for each individual piece of the dress and having it done on time, or if something goes wrong... It will be a relief for her just to be able to find one and enjoy that process. I think this is a good thing!
Enjoy your time off with Alyssa!
And have a great week!
Hey D! Those are great pics of your Dad and brother. It looks like you all had a good visit with both of them. It's too bad the girls couldn't go, but Yay for leftover Chinese food!
This just goes to show how unselfishly you love them. You are showing your daughters how we are supposed to "honor our Fathers and Mothers". It seems like such a general statement until you are actually called upon to take care of someone who has taken care of you. I can't imagine what a strange feeling that must be, but you are doing a great job and being a great example.
It's true! I was little when my mom went to beauty school, but she kept all her books, and I remember being surprised at all the anatomy and chemistry she had to know. That was in the 80's, so I am sure it's much more involved now. I think this was such a smart, mature decision for her to make. It will only benefit her whether she decides to make a career of it or not!
Guurl- it is your Chicken fajita recipe, LOL!
It's the Paleo one that I repinned from your pinterest board. I just boil the chicken and shred it instead of cutting it into chunks. It seems to make more volume-wise that way.
No worries! I would read without pictures, too. You have gone above and beyond-I'm sure I would have given up by now. You are right, though, pictures are fun. Some of V's faces just say it all, Lol. I am going back to read again after I finish this.
I actually just read a tip (maybe on Pinterest? I can't remember) that said to just take a full roll of Saran wrap and tightly wrap it around the tree- decorations and all- and store it standing up. I don't know... could work...
Day 1 went pretty well. Although, I was hungry before bed last night. I drank some herbal tea to try to stave off the hunger. I know one thing, though, I detest black coffee! That was the one thing I knew would be hard for me. I woke up with a headache this morning, so I am having a cup of black coffee now and I think I will have some Green Tea later. DH has been on board so far, but he goes back to work tomorrow, so I think that might change things. He says he is working on a work-out plan for us, which frankly, scares me. He tends to go "Marine mode" when it comes to working out which is way overboard in my opinion. Anyway, here's to day 2! Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration! I'm glad to be on this road with you.
Thanks! It was so nice to be able to spend some time with them together - and not have to hurry home because someone needed a ride to work or whatever.
Thank you for saying that - it means a lot... I tend to carry a lot of guilt because of leaving them alone so far away, though I do feel like my hands are tied... I am doing the best I can... It means a lot that others notice that.
Yes - I am pretty proud of her... And even if she doesn't choose that carreer path - it's still an excellent way for her to make $$ on the side, should she choose to do that.
ROFLMAO!!!! Hahaha!!! That is too funny! When you posted that's what you were making - I was like "Hmmm, I sure do like fajitas..." I guess I better go take a look-see at my Pinterest board?
I pin like crazy and I forget half of it.
Awwwh - thanks! I am glad to hear that most of you would read with out so many pictures.
Thankfully - I was able to get the next day's pictures uploaded yesterday and turned properly... So, hopefully the next few updates go well.
I honestly contemplated doing this... Until Allison actually took each ornament off and packed it away... Ahhh - what fun is decorating the tree though if you bring it up and it's already done? LOL Maybe in a few years, when I don't have any helpers?
I am happy to hear that Day 1 went well for you... If you are hungry before bed, make sure that you are eating enough at your 3rd meal to tide you over... also make sure you are getting that fat and enough protein - as those are the two things that keep you satisfied the longest.
Coffee was the worst for me... During my first W30 - I was STRICT about it... I did black coffee with a lot of cinnamon... I hated every moment of it - but I am glad I did it and was true to the program. From then forward - doing a (modified) "W30" - I"ve always cut back on the agave and half n' half I put in - but I don't take it out completely... I know I don't have any allergies from it - and it makes my day a bit better. I would never recommend doing it my way though - until you've done at least one true W30.
Josh used to be the same way too... He would just stop eating for a week or so and start running like a mad man... That was back in his military days - I think he is over dieting now.
I hope Day 2 went awesome for you! I can't wait to hear about it!
What a fun party! I love MNSSHP! We went in 2011 and still find ourselves regularly bursting out in "Boo to you and you and you and you!" That lady at the parade- I think that is going beyond invading personal space! I don't blame V at all for getting upset. It's a credit to V that she didn't let that ruin the rest of her night. The ride pics and magic shots are too cute! It makes me want to go back and do a party again. Hopefully ticket prices won't be up to $200 a person by the time I get back to the states!
It was a lot of fun! We love MNSSHP! It's the best!
Yah - it was not a fun experience - it was so strange and just not right. LOL It did take a bit to snap her out of it - she was not a happy girl! Having to deal with that lady and her dress - then to go immediately into those parade exit crowds - I just hung on to her purse strap and let her drag me through.... It was like fighting to get to the top of the lake for a breath of air. - instinctively - she would get out of the crowd of people
Yes - ticket prices are definitely getting out of hand too... It puts a damper on trips for sure! I hope you are able to go again while it's still reasonable.
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So, yesterday morning, Josh and I left and headed for Rochester... I always forget what an easy drive that is - and I should go south more often... We did hit a few patches of heavy snow - where I thought the roads would be bad - but they weren't, at least not at that time - they may have gotten worse later?
Anyways - it was a good trip and we were able to get the mirrors... My cousin works for a local hotel that is doing a remodel... He knew we are always doing work on our house - so he offered me a mirror (or 4)... These things are beasts!!! He told me they measured approx 6ft x 3ft - not sure I believed him?
Those were accurate measurements!
They barely fit in our car to bring them all home!
I had help loading and unloading all of them - but I was the 2nd person for each one - so I got my work out for sure! The girls each ended up with one for their room... I wanted one to go in our bathroom when we remodel -but unless we move a wall - that won't happen, the mirrors are too long. I also want one to go in our master closet, once we finish that. So, at the moment - we have 2 mirrors that are sort-of "extras"... We will figure it out.
Both girls had the perfect location in their rooms - so that is awesome! Here is Allison's...
So, for the time being, one of the mirrors is up in the upstairs hallway... And the other is in the living room... I don't like the living room one - but we have to put it somewhere, and since this corner is now empty...
I didn't plan on taking down the Christmas decor yesterday - and then Josh had me send a text to the girls to start taking ornaments off the tree - I didn't hear back from either of them - so I just assumed they didn't do it... Which is fine with me - as I was really enjoying the tree. Then, when we got home, we discovered that Allison had taken every ornament off of the tree by herself, and packed them all away - so all that was left for me to do was take down the actual tree + the decor around the living room and haul it all to the basement. Miraculously - I was able to get all of that done by myself... However - i still have the entertainment cabinet to de-Christmas, as I ran out of storage bins.
That should be easy though. It's kind of nice to have it all done... Though I will definitely miss the glow of lights at night - it seems like those lights make winter bearable.
I did keep this up though... So maybe that will help - even if one tree is 'summer' and one tree is "winter" LOL
Today - life resumes... It's back to heavy lifting - after 2 weeks off - D is going to be SORE tomorrow! I am also a few days into eating much better than I was... I either froze all of the goodies laying around or chucked them... I couldn't have the temptation staring me in the face all the time.
I am also back to work... With out a car at my disposal much over the coming weeks - I hope to make HUGE progress on a few extra projects in my line-up, on top of my regular stuff.
And also - maybe sneak in a few naps. LOL
So, that's about it for me today! I hope you all had a wonderful New Year... And your first days back to the "real world" go easy for you.
Prayers and Pixie Dust to all!
D~
Anyway it's definitely a high priority for us to return this year and make SURE we see the parade this time!
